Politics

Palau's President Surangel Whipps speaks to Nikkei Asia on the sidelines of Pacific Islands Forum in the Fijian capital of Suva on July 12.
Interview

Palau maintains Taiwan ties despite Chinese pressure

Pacific nation will raise concerns at regional forum, president says

13 July 2022
Protesters criticize the treatment of women in Australian politics last year. Gender equality was a key theme of the recent Australian election that brought a change of government.
Society

WEF Gender Gap report shines harsh light on Asia's lopsided politics

Japan, China and others trail as region remains only 13% of way to political parity

13 July 2022
A solar cell production line in Baddi, in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh: India is emerging as a low-cost, large-scale rival to China in clean energy manufacturing.
Opinion

Quad should seize chance to boost Indo-Pacific clean energy

Challenging China's dominance will not be easy

11 July 2022
From left, U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern were among the world leaders mourning former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Source photos by Reuters)
Shinzo Abe

Biden joins Asian, global leaders in expressing shock over Abe shooting

Tributes pour in from India, Taiwan, Australia and other Japan partners

9 July 2022
Jim Chalmers in Brisbane on May 15: The Labor treasurer will want to rebalance the wage versus profit share of the economy.
Opinion

Australia's central bank's reasoning needs rethinking

Wages policy lies at the heart of the new government's challenge

1 July 2022
Stream article image
Indo-Pacific

70% of Australians support nuclear submarines under AUKUS

Country's public increasingly views Russia and China as threats in new poll

29 June 2022
Australia was widely criticized as a climate laggard during the Scott Morrison years. New Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is out to change that -- and realize the country's renewable power potential.
Asia Insight

Australia coal sector braces as Albanese tackles carbon demons

Export hub of Newcastle wonders how it can escape another 'BHP moment'

28 June 2022
Japanese, Australian and U.S. destroyers participate in last December's Annualex joint exercise. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Pacific Fleet)
Indo-Pacific

Japan PM to flex muscles for Indo-Pacific security at NATO summit

Kishida plans 4-way meeting on sidelines with South Korea, Australia, New Zealand

25 June 2022
Activists in Jakarta protest during International Women's Day on March 8.
Coronavirus

COVID worsens gender gap in Indonesia, Pakistan: UN agency report

Study also shows women in Pacific islands affected more by vaccine misinformation

22 June 2022
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks on a recent island-hopping trip to the South Pacific. Beijing wants to boost its influence in the region through infrastructure projects such as one near a sea wall in Fiji, left. (Source photos by AP) 
Comment

Is China following Japan's prewar path in the South Pacific?

Beijing's growing clout in strategic region irks U.S., Australia

15 June 2022
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on June 14. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Interview

China's military expansion is 'opaque': Australia defense minister

Marles warns buildup is the biggest since WWII; concerned about Solomon deal

14 June 2022
A Chinese Coast Guard ship attempts to block a Filipino fishing boat by spraying water off Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in October 2016: Hybrid threats gain their advantage in Indo-Pacific.
Opinion

Indo-Pacific needs to establish a center for countering hybrid threats

New types of aggression and competition are being used to weaken regional security

11 June 2022
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, and Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa attend a signing ceremony sealing agreements between the two countries in Samoa on May 28.
Indo-Pacific

China's Pacific island-hopping reveals new front line of geopolitics

Foreign Minister Wang Yi's 7-nation tour challenges traditional partnerships

8 June 2022
Wang Yi, left, lock arms with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on May 26: Wang's strategic overreach put him off balance.
Opinion

China loses its way in the South Pacific

Wang Yi's eight-nation tour fails to impress

7 June 2022
While Anthony Albanese sought to enlist Indonesia in a new Indo-Pacific security arrangement, Joko Widodo insisted on maintaining neutrality toward China on June 6 in Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta. (Screenshot from Indonesian Presidential Palace's official YouTube channel)
International relations

Australia's Albanese pledges $480m for ASEAN, Indonesia

New prime minister solicits Jakarta's support for Pacific campaign

6 June 2022
People walk outside a train station in Auckland. New Zealand launched a special visa program for entrepreneurs on a trial basis in 2017.
Economy

New Zealand social innovator visa offers blueprint for Japan

Program draws entrepreneurs as global competition for tech pioneers heats up

4 June 2022
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, left, meets with Tongan King Tupou VI in Nuku'alofa on Friday. (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs via AP)
Indo-Pacific

Australia runs diplomatic Pacific island blitz in China's wake

Foreign minister travels to three islands in less than two weeks in office

4 June 2022
Then Australia's opposition leader Anthony Albanese, right, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo meet at Parliament House in Canberra on February 10, 2020. (File photo by Getty Images) 
International relations

Australia's Albanese fulfills diplomatic pledge with Indonesia trip

New leader will discuss AUKUS pact with Jokowi in Monday meeting

3 June 2022
Australia's new cabinet was sworn in on June 1 with a record number of women in ministerial roles and the country's first-ever Muslim ministers.
Politics

New Australian government includes record 13 female ministers

Albanese tweets of 'overflow of talent,' including Muslim and Indigenous women

1 June 2022
Anthony Albanese addresses Labor colleagues during a party caucus in Canberra on May 31: Strategically-minded people are once again in charge of Australian foreign relations.
Opinion

Historic alliance beckons if Greens can work with Australia's Albanese

Failure to make common cause would set the country back another decade

1 June 2022
The airstrip on Kanton Island in Kiribati was built by the U.S. military. 
International relations

Kiribati runway project in focus as China's Wang Yi tours region

Small islands in South Pacific play big role in geopolitical chess match

29 May 2022
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addresses Nikkei's Future of Asia conference on May 27. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
The Future of Asia 2022

Indonesia's Jokowi urges quick rollout of China-backed trade bloc

At Nikkei forum, Hun Sen defends succession plan and denies China 'debt trap'

27 May 2022
Indonesian President Joko Widodo says that "Indonesia wants to make sure that the G-20 will serve as a catalyst for global economic recovery." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
The Future of Asia 2022

Indonesia's Jokowi aims to host successful G-20 despite Russia issue

President urges 'immediate' implementation of China-backed trade bloc

27 May 2022
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia's new Labor government will be more proactive in helping island nations take care of their needs. He spoke with Nikkei on May 27.
The Future of Asia 2022

Australia to deploy 'more active presence' in South Pacific: Rudd

Former PM believes Canberra will assist island states amid Solomon Islands-China pact

27 May 2022
Chinese naval personnel stand at attention. The country is seeking to establish defense ties in the Pacific Ocean.
Indo-Pacific

China seeks regional security deal with Pacific Island nations

One leader warns that the arrangement would lead to a new Cold War or worse

27 May 2022